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Antibiotic resistance biggest threat to patients post-Covid

Bad bacteria infections found in those who spent a month at ICUs

Hyderabad: Antibiotic resistance is the biggest threat post-Covid19. Elements of bad bacteria like klebsiella and acinetobacter were found in the secondary infections of the Covid 19 patients who remained for a month or so at intensive care units (ICUs).

A pilot study of samples collected from 100 such patients from hospitals across the country found klebsiella, acinetobacter and E.Coli in these Covid patients. These were all in critical care stages at the ICUs.

The Covid19 virus of the SARS-Cov 2 genre was no longer in the body but the bad bacteria in the body were contracted by them from the catheter sites, ventilation tubes and other machines to aid the body in its functioning and these were attacking the organs and resisting the effect of antibiotics on the body.

The study found the highest resistance to antibiotics was from the acinetobacter bacteria; at the rate of 66 per cent.

The pilot study was undertaken to understand the secondary infections caused due to Covid19, after the first wave, in June 2020. The study has been published in medRxiv and is under review of the peer group. A need for a larger sample size for the study has been stressed.

Infectious disease specialist Dr T. Chandrashekar said, "Increasing secondary infections caused due to bacteria and fungi have been seen after Covid19 infections on the body. Antibiotic resistance is the biggest threat post-Covid19. What we are seeing is just the tip of the iceberg as there are many who do not make it to the organised hospital set-ups."

To control dispensation of high-end drugs like steroids, Schedule H drugs and other antibody cocktails, it is for the Drug Controller of India to take stringent steps. Apart from controlling the retail sector, stockists and wholesale distributors have also to be followed for the dispensation of these crucial medicines,” opined experts.

The resistance of bacterial organisms and pathogens leads to treatment challenges. Seriously infected patients do not respond to second and third generation antibiotics.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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